Aks: Trans Stories Across South Asia (18) + recorded discussion

Event/ This screening will be followed by a recorded discussion with transgender actress and activist Alina Khan, reflecting on the struggles, resilience, and rights of South Asian transgender communities.? Aks International Minorities Festival presents a selection of shorts from their festival?s 10-year journey, highlighting Khwaja Sira and trans lives across South Asia. ?This programme explores representation, progress, and the ongoing global backlash against trans communities.??Screening programme:?Darling (dir. Saim Saqid) - An erotic dance theatre in Lahore prepares for a new show just as a sacrificial goat goes missing, a dreamy trans girl vies for the spotlight, and a naive young boy falls in love.?Happy Marriage (dir. Sana Jafri) - A strong-willed trans woman encourages her lover to get married to a woman of his family?s choosing as his masculinity is questioned by his friends and family.?Vadhai (dir. Claire Pamment) - A documentary exploring the kinship, beliefs, joy, and economies that sustain the vibrant Khwaja sira performances of ?Vadhai? devotional songs, dances, prayers, and comic repartee.?Raja Bro (dir. Sridhar Rangayan) - A heartfelt portrait of Merlin, an Indian trans man?s journey toward self-acceptance and family acceptance. Supported by his mother and extended family, Merlin embraces his identity after a courageous transition.?Four Fifty-Five ml (dir. Mahnoor Zaidi) - In response to a call for blood donations for a critically ill boy, Kausar, a middle-aged trans-woman, rushes through the busy streets of Lahore.?Mujra (dir. Saadat Munir) - An experimental video exploring the unique performance tradition of Lahori Khawaja Siras, reflecting on an art form often overlooked as culture yet vital to the trans* community?s survival and livelihoods.??Aks International Minorities Festival was founded in Pakistan in 2014 by activists amplifying the voices of marginalised communities, with a focus on transgender people, sexual minorities, and people of colour. Rooted in the indigenous Khwaja Sira community, it has grown into a platform for film, art, performance, and dialogue across Pakistan and Copenhagen.?Aks made its UK debut in Manchester in 2017 and now returns in collaboration with SCENE Festival, celebrating Pride with a programme of films, performances, and conversations.